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R-2012-039-2012-03-26 RESOLUTION NO. R2012-39 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS, ADOPTING A MASTER FIRE STATION LOCATION PLAN. BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PEARLAND, TEXAS: Section 1. That the City Council hereby adopts the Master Fire Station Location Plan attached hereto as Exhibit "A". PASSED, APPROVED, AND ADOPTED this 26th day of March, A.D., 2012. TOM REID MAYOR ATTEST: Yj NG 1 R IN , "M €) �j/�\ Y SE ETARY rte': APPROVED AS TO FORM: �.J et, /I . DARRIN M. COKER CITY ATTORNEY EXHIBIT "A" Resolution No. 2012-39 m p Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. 3101 S. Country Club Rd. Garland, TX 75043-1311 972.271.3292 Phone Assisting Communities 214.728.6507 Cell With Their ISO Rating 972.840.6665 Fax michaelpietsch @tx.rr.com A Report From MIKE PIETSCH, P.E. CONSULTING SERVICES, INC. To THE CITY OF PEARLAND Demonstrating a Master Fire Station Location Plan November 21, 2011 Submitted by: Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. 3101 S. Country Club Rd. Garland, TX 75043-1311 Phone: 972-271-3292 Fax: 972-840-6665 E-Mail: michaelpietsch @tx.rr.com Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland A Report From MIKE PIETSCH, P.E. CONSULTING SERVICES, INC. To THE CITY OF PEARLAND Master Fire Station Location Plan Explanation of Study This report demonstrates an accurate fire station location study for the City of Pearland. The study utilizes 1.5-mile response boundaries (approximates 3 to 4- minute response times) for engine companies and 2.5-mile response boundaries (approximates 6 to 8-minute response times) for ladder companies. Existing structures in areas requiring fire stations are analyzed to determine the apparatus required at all existing and proposed fire stations. This is the most accurate method of locating fire stations along with apparatus deployment that exists today. The strategic placement of existing and proposed engine and ladder companies is critical to the emergency response for the City of Pearland. The report will address the immediate needs of the City of Pearland along with all future needs based on the existing city limits and ETJ. Apparatus and staffing deployment for each existing and suggested station will be identified. The suggestions developed from this report relate only to a fire station study and its possible effect on an insurance classification for the City of Pearland. They are not for property loss prevention or life safety purposes and no life safety or property loss prevention suggestions are made. I would like to thank Chief Riley and his staff for their excellent cooperation. Without their support the accuracy and timeliness of this study would not be possible. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 2 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Executive Summary Based on information obtained during my November 2011 visit to the City of Pearland the fire department will be required to have 9 engine companies and 3 ladder companies in service available to respond to structural alarms of fire, within the existing city limits, operating out of 9 fire stations, as the budget allows. At present, the City of Pearland has 6 engine companies and 2 ladder companies deployed from 6 fire stations (fire station #6 is considered in-service for this report). Future annexations into Pearland's ETJ will require 2 additional fire stations, as the budget allows. These 2 additional fire stations will not be required in the newly annexed areas until developed occurs within each annexed area to the extent that an extensive road base (with structures) exists such as the response area served by newly erected fire station #6. Since all thoroughfares and streets have not yet been platted within the majority of Pearland's ETJ this study (relating to the ETJ) is obviously an educated approximation. The fire station placement for Pearland's ETJ is based on the extensions of thoroughfares and streets as demonstrated by blue dashed lines on the map developed by Chief Riley. Limitations placed on this study are: Fire stations 4, 5, and 6 must remain in their same location due to their recent construction. Fire stations 1, 2, and 3 can be relocated (and must be or 2 additional fire stations will be required housing 2 additional engine companies). In addition fire stations 1, 2, and 3 are not suitable to house modern fire apparatus and/or provide adequate living quarters for career and/or volunteer firefighters on duty 24/7. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 3 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Analysis of the Existing Fire Defense Infrastructure The starting point for this study begins, as Pearland's Fire Department existed on November 16, 2011. The following demonstrates the existing deployment of resources available to the Pearland Fire Department for response to first alarm structure fires. 1. Fire Station #1 (In the vicinity of Old Alvin Rd. and E. Orange St.) — housing an engine company and a ladder truck company staffed with 4 firefighters. 2. Fire Station #2 (In the vicinity of Walnut St. and McLean Rd.)— housing an engine company staffed with response by volunteer firefighters. 3. Fire Station #3 (In the vicinity of Broadway St. and Dixie Farm Rd.) — housing an engine company staffed with response by volunteer firefighters. 4. Fire Station #4 (In the vicinity of Freedom Dr. and Cullen Pkwy.)— housing an engine company and a ladder truck company staffed with 4 firefighters. 5. Fire Station #5 (In the vicinity of Broadway St. and Kirby Dr.) — housing an engine company staffed with 4 firefighters. . 6. Fire Station #6 (In the vicinity of Croix Rd. and Savannah Pkwy.) — housing an engine company with volunteer response staffing this station. This fire station is considered in-service for this report even though it is presently under construction. In summary, 6 engine companies and 2 ladder companies are available to respond to first alarm structural fires deployed from 6 fire stations. Staffing is determined to be at a level of 12 firefighters on duty with these 8 companies. This gives a staffing level per company of 1.50 firefighters. Based on structural fire reports volunteer response during the workweek was extremely limited and therefore not considered for this report. However, the possibility exists a portion of this minimal volunteer response may be attributed to a malfunctioning paging system that has recently been repaired. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 4 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Suggestions for the proper location of existing and proposed fire stations based on the current city limits of the City of Pearland. This section of the report will consider the suggested relocation of 3 existing fire stations and the erection of a 3 additional fire stations (referred to as proposed fire stations 7, 8, and 9 within this report) as budget constraints allow. Apparatus and staffing requirements will be demonstrated for each individual station. • Consideration should be given to the relocation of 3 existing fire stations (fire stations 1, 2, and 3) and the erection of 3 additional fire stations as budget constraints allow. The following 6 suggestions are offered for your consideration: 1. Existing fire station #1 should be relocated to the vicinity of Pearland Pkwy. and Hidden Glen Ln. housing an engine company (apparatus and 4 firefighters*). 2. Existing fire station #2 should be relocated to the vicinity of Cantu Rd. and Wagon Trail Rd. This station should continue to house an engine company (apparatus and 4 fire fighters*) and a ladder truck (apparatus and 4 fire fighters*). 3. Existing fire station #3 should be relocated to the vicinity of Yost Rd. and Pine Hill Dr. This fire station should house an engine company (apparatus and 4 firefighters*) and a ladder truck company(apparatus and 4 firefighters*). 4. A seventh fire station should be erected in the vicinity of one-half mile west of Main St. and Oiler Dr. This station should house an engine company(apparatus and 4 firefighters*). 5. An eighth fire station should be erected in the vicinity of Clear Lake Loop and Old Airline Rd. This station should house an engine company(apparatus and 4 firefighters*). 6. A ninth fire station should be erected in the vicinity of McHard Rd. and Country Place Pkwy. This fire station should house an engine company(apparatus and 4 firefighters*). * Firefighters can be a combination of full-time paid (24/7), part-time paid (they are prorated based on the number of hours per day they are on duty at the fire station), or volunteer firefighters that are on duty at the fire station (they are prorated based on the number of hours per day they are on duty), Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 5 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland • The proper deployment of apparatus and staffing based on the immediate needs of the City of Pearland are: 1. Relocated Fire Station #1 —deploying an engine company. 2. Relocated Fire Station #2 —deploying an engine company and a ladder truck company. 3. Relocated Fire Station #3 —deploying an engine company and a ladder truck company. 4. Existing Fire Station #4—deploying an engine company. 5. Existing Fire Station #5 — deploying an engine company and a ladder truck company. 6. Existing Fire Station #6 —deploying an engine company. 7. Proposed Fire Station #7 —deploying an engine company. 8. Proposed Fire Station #8 —deploying an engine company. 9. Proposed Fire Station #9 —deploying an engine company. Satisfying the preceding suggestions will require 3 additional engine companies and 1 additional ladder truck company. In addition some level of paid staffing should be provided for the 3 fire stations presently served only by volunteer response. Based on structural fire reports developed over the past year volunteer response during the daytime workweek is extremely limited. Again, the repair of the volunteer paging system may improve this situation. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 6 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Suggestions for the proper location of additional fire stations based on the current ETJ for the City of Pearland: To aid in future planning within the present ETJ of the City of Pearland the following fire stations will be required as areas are annexed and developed. At present current development does not require these stations. Please note that the placement of thoroughfares and streets will greatly affect the exact location of these fire stations. However, when sufficient development occurs within 1.5-road miles of these locations the 2 additional stations will be required, as the budget allows. Whether an engine company or an engine company and a ladder company are required at each station will be based on future building heights, size, occupancy, exposure, construction, and protection. The following locations are provided for your consideration: 1. Fire station #10 should be erected in the vicinity of Pearland Pkwy. (future road extension just west of Airfield Lane in the southeastern section of the City of Pearland demonstrated by the blue dashed line) and the extension of County Rd. 130. 2. Fire station #11 should be erected in the vicinity of Harkey Rd. and Brian St. If these 2 future suggestions were implemented, as Pearland developed, a total of 11 fire stations would be required to reasonably cover the existing city limits and ETJ of the City of Pearland as they existed in November 2011. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 7 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Effect on the ISO Rating for the City of Pearland At present the City of Pearland has an ISO rating of 3. In spite of the significant improvements in Pearland's existing fire defense infrastructure (Fire Service Communications, Fire Department, Water Department and Fire Safety Control) due to explosive growth of population and development this rating will possibly possibly regress to a 4 or a 5. Please note that ISO will not return to the City of Pearland for at least 5-years; realistically 10-years. Chief Riley is very knowledgeable of the required steps to prepare for an ISO re-survey prior to the community's set frequency of survey. Communities such as the City of Pearland, with an excellent water infrastructure, should achieve an ISO rating of 2 or 1. If Pearland improved its fire department infrastructure by complying with a portion of this report's suggestions I firmly believe the City of Pearland could achieve an ISO PPC 2 or 1 in the future. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 8 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Plan of Action • Complete the suggested fire station relocations involving 3 existing fire stations and the erection of 3 additional fire stations as budget constraints allow. This will provide the citizens of Pearland emergency response from 9 fire stations based on the current city limit boundary. • Provide the apparatus and its deployment as suggested in this report based on 9 fire stations being in-service. This will meet the immediate needs of the City of Pearland. • Provide additional firefighters* as budget constraints allow. Please note that as new fire stations are erected, housing additional apparatus, the accompanying staffing for the apparatus must be provided. Adding fire stations and apparatus without the accompanying staffing will dilute the overall strength of the fire department and actually negatively impact the ISO rating for the City of Pearland. Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 9 Master Fire Station Location Study for the City of Pearland Conclusion Accomplish as many of the suggested fire defense infrastructure improvements as possible which will have a significant impact on the emergency response and the ISO rating for the City of Pearland. I would like to thank Mr. Bill Eisen for his continued support and the assistance provided me by Fire Chief Vance Riley and his staff. I appreciate the opportunity afforded me by the City of Pearland and look forward to working with your community in the future. Sincerely, W. Michael Pietsch, P.E. Civil Engineer Report to the City of Pearland Master Fire Station Location Study 11/21/11 Mike Pietsch, P.E. Consulting Services, Inc. Page 10